In this excerpt from a recent Field Service News webcast sponsored by rugged computing specialist Xplore Technologies FSN Editor-in-Chief, Kris Oldland is joined by Steve Priestly and Cliff Adams of Xplore and Bob Ashenbrenner of Durable Mobility...
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Jul 31, 2018 • Features • Hardware • Mobility solutions • Xplore • Bob Ashenbrenner • Cliff Adams • field service • field service management • Rugged Computing • Rugged Handhelds • Rugged laptops • rugged tablet • Service Management • Steve Priestly
In this excerpt from a recent Field Service News webcast sponsored by rugged computing specialist Xplore Technologies FSN Editor-in-Chief, Kris Oldland is joined by Steve Priestly and Cliff Adams of Xplore and Bob Ashenbrenner of Durable Mobility Technologies as they discuss some of the key questions around device choices field service organisations should be making including asking whether the lines between rugged and consumer are blurring, how to decide which form factor is right for your service technicians and just how often should field service companies be seeking to update the devices that they have deployed within the field.
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Apr 10, 2018 • Features • Hardware • Jackson White • Xplore • Getac • hardware • janam • Robert Hurt • rugged • Tom Kost
As we see consumer-grade devices becoming increasingly more ruggedised with many high-end devices now being IP68 certified is there any need for field service companies to continue to invest in more expensive equivalents offered by specialist rugged...
As we see consumer-grade devices becoming increasingly more ruggedised with many high-end devices now being IP68 certified is there any need for field service companies to continue to invest in more expensive equivalents offered by specialist rugged manufacturers?
As high-end consumer units become better rated (for example high-end Samsung phones have been IP68 for some time now) the question arises will rugged eventually die out as a category of mobile devices?
Tom Kost, Director of Product Marketing at Xplore Technologies is someone that firmly believes this won’t be the case.
As high-end consumer units become better rated the question arises will rugged eventually die out as a category of mobile devices?“Absolutely not,” he states. “There are dozens of companies offering what they call “rugged” devices and hope that those 6 letters will win the sale. Yet, a mobile device that claims to offer rugged protection via the addition of a Gorilla Glass screen or external rubber casing will never come close to offering the protection, power and performance of a device that’s engineered to be rugged to the core.”
“Simply making an otherwise fragile consumer device waterproof or dustproof (IP68-rated) does not make it a viable option for heavy field use, as “consumer rugged” brands want you to believe. Water and dust are not the only hazards threatening device reliability, data security or even worker safety, all of which matter to field service organizations. Deeming a tablet, laptop or handheld PC that will be used in professional environments as “rugged” using a single spec is not just risky, but irresponsible,” he asserts.
Jackson White, Business Development Director at Getac takes a slightly more measured approach to the relationship between consumer and rugged devices.
“Consumer and rugged device manufacturers are learning from each other and the categories certainly are converging,” he argues.
Consumer devices are becoming thinner, lighter and faster and industry is now demanding a more consumer-like experience with the aim of achieving better communication and productivity in the field.“Consumer devices are becoming thinner, lighter and faster and industry is now demanding a more consumer-like experience with the aim of achieving better communication and productivity in the field.”
However, he to feels that when it comes to professional use in the field rugged manufacturers still provide the better solutions.
“While everyday consumers would undoubtedly benefit from their devices being waterproof, off the shelf consumer devices would not survive the rigours of an eight hour plus shift for a three year period for field service professionals,” he comments.
“We’re seeing rapid innovation from rugged manufacturers where they’re focused on reducing size, weight (through the use of composite materials, for example) and power consumption, all while retaining rugged characteristics.”
“Rugged devices used by field workers not only have to withstand drops, shocks, vibrations, spillages and in some instances, chemicals, but they also need to provide data security and the power and battery life needed to ensure a reliable experience, allowing organizations who have digitized their processes to benefit from gains in efficiency and productivity.”
“Devices designed for mobile workers use batteries which are more powerful and can last eight to 10 hours. Connectivity is better with optimized antennas, so field service personnel can access and input data quicker, and more efficiently.
Touchscreen technology has dramatically improved, for example, Getac’s proprietary Lumibond® technology allows screens to be easily read in both very bright and dull environments, and used with finger, gloves and protective clothing, or stylus, even in the rain.”
Rugged accounts for 28% of enterprise device access, according to ‘CCS Insights IT Decision Maker Mobile Technology Survey, 2016’, and this number rises to 50% in industries such as construction, transportation and utilities.
These thoughts are also echoed by Robert Hurt, General Manager, EMEA with Janam.
Rugged on its own, is not enough in a real-world field service environment. True ruggedness is not just about IP ratings or rigorous testing “Rugged on its own, is not enough in a real-world field service environment. True ruggedness is not just about IP ratings or rigorous testing to ensure it can withstand frequent drops, tumbles and shocks across a wide temperature range. Rugged mobile computers offer features that enable the device to optimally perform well beyond the life expectancy of a consumer-grade device,” he adds.
“Features like reinforced displays to prevent breakages, large capacity and/or removable batteries and robust radios to provide secure and reliable connectivity and seamless roaming, have a positive impact on productivity and the bottom line.”
“If an organization requires data capture, a consumer device will not provide true barcode scanning technology. While a smartphone camera can scan a barcode, it doesn’t provide the same performance you receive from a scan engine, and certainly will disappoint when it comes to reading damaged or poorly printed barcodes.”
“Rugged smartphones have a short lifecycle and are not designed to last several years in a business environment. Purpose-built rugged mobile computers offer longer-term investment protection, backed-up by multi-year service plans to get you back up and running quickly if a unit does get damaged. At the end of the day, a rugged smartphone cannot replace a rugged mobile computer that was specially designed to run line-of-business applications in the enterprise.”
The point around device life expectancy is, of course, a valid one, especially when we consider the mission-critical importance of field service operations. However, with the price of consumer units, especially from regions like China, becoming so much lower than a rugged device – could a case be made for adopting an approach whereby organizations simply stock up on additional cheaper units as back up rather than fewer more reliable, but more expensive rugged units?
“First off, a “rugged” tablet that is far less expensive that its competition is most likely far less rugged,” comments Kost.
“Consider the resources it will require to replace knock-off “consumer rugged” devices when they fail (and they will) along with the downtime losses that will occur while that worker is offline. This isn’t just about the sticker price of the replacement device, either. You have to factor the cost of labour required to re-order, re-configure, re-secure and redeploy the new device, all while your field worker is “down” and customers aren’t serviced.”
“Multiply that by 100 or 10,000 employees and you’ll see how hard it is to justify the few hundred dollars you may save per device up front on a “cheaper” device. Then factor the costs related to deploying the right workflow software, compatible accessories, and ultimately the security and maintenance of the entire mobility/IT solution for 3-5 years.”
It’s risky to do an upfront cost comparison for consumer and rugged mobile devices; rather businesses need to take a long-term view of total cost of ownership for a deviceWhite also concurs with this premise.
“It’s risky to do an upfront cost comparison for consumer and rugged mobile devices; rather businesses need to take a long-term view of total cost of ownership for a device,” he says.
“Despite generally being cheaper at the offset, consumer devices will quickly fail in environments outside of the office, which not only leads to higher replacement and service costs, but also to inefficiencies, disruptions in productivity, penalties from missed service level agreements but most importantly end-user frustration and loss of confidence in systems and process. While consumer devices tend to have a usable life of around 18 to 24 months, in testing field environments, this could be as short as a few weeks.”
“Rugged devices are built to last. For example, Getac devices are built from the ground up and components are assured for up to five years. In the unlikely event of damage, it offers a ‘bumper-to-bumper’ accidental damage warranty free of charge.”
“VDC recently reported that consumer devices are 3x more likely to fail within the first year,” adds Hurt.
“We’ve worked with many customers that initially deployed consumer-grade devices. After 6-12 months they came to us because the devices couldn’t survive – and the downtime and repair costs of the consumer device quickly ate up the initial savings associated with deploying a smartphone. Not only did these customers experience crippling downtime, but they couldn’t get the same level of service and support that comes with purchasing and deploying a rugged mobile computer.”
“Cheaper devices don’t offer all the features and functionality enterprises require, nor do consumer manufacturers offer the same range of optional accessories workers need to support various applications,” he adds.
You may pay a bit more in the short term for a purpose-built device, but you save in the long term when you take into consideration the costs associated with device downtime and frequent replacement costs“You may pay a bit more in the short term for a purpose-built device, but you save in the long term when you take into consideration the costs associated with device downtime and frequent replacement costs when the consumer device simply can’t survive the rigours of the enterprise.”
With this in mind, it would appear that whilst having hardware that is fit-for-purpose is an important factor in why field service organizations continue to turn to rugged manufacturers, the true value in working with an enterprise level hardware provider is as much about their understanding of your workflows and needs as it is about their hardware.
“Many technology resellers and OEMs are simply going to deliver a package to your door and walk away, leaving you to figure out the “solution”. That’s why you must partner with a true enterprise-level mobile solution provider that understands the specialized needs of your industry and business and knows how to overcome common pain points,” Kost comments.
“They can expertly identify which mobile components are compatible with your current IT environment. And, they are best-equipped to integrate the entire mobility solution in a way that bridges legacy and future systems without disrupting workers and workflows. For example, at Xplore, we think beyond the platform to ensure every component of our rugged mobility solutions – from the core of the rugged computer to the mounting hardware, connectivity, security, software and accessories – is compatible with customers’ other tech systems and complementary to workers’ existing business processes and the physical work environment.”
It is this ability to understand workflows that White believes is the key differentiator between consumer and specialist providers also.
“Rugged manufactures can add value by having a deep understanding of specific industry workflows practices and process. It’s also important for them to work closely with customers to understand individual requirements so devices can be customized accordingly,” he comments.
Hurt is also on the same page here as well. “Companies like Janam work closely with a broad range of customers, resellers and ISVs and understand the requirements to support workflows across industries. We specially design our devices to survive all day, everyday use in tough environments. We work closely with our customers to deliver a device that meets the specific needs of their organization, as we understand that the consumer “one size fits all” model doesn’t work for companies running demanding line-of-business applications.”
However, making the decision to opt for rugged devices over consumer is only the first step in identifying the devices right for your field engineers. The rugged sector, though niche, remains highly competitive. So what should a company look for in a rugged hardware provider?
“You need to choose a solution provider that not only has the technology, but the resources, agility and know-how to quickly solve your complex business problems,” explains Kost.
You need to choose a solution provider that not only has the technology, but the resources, agility and know-how to quickly solve your complex business problems“You should never feel as though the hardware provider is trying to shoehorn in a device, and be wary of those that push ‘one-size-fits-all’ mobile computers or mobility bundles. Also, confirm platform expandability. Ensure the device can support OS, storage and memory upgrades. This provides operational flexibility and extends the life of the current software, security, and back-office systems, lowering the cost of IT training/support.”
“Businesses should consider a number of factors when choosing a hardware provider to work with,” comments White.
“Sector knowledge and experience with the ecosystem associated with the device are key as is the ability to customize and tailor devices. Warranties and after sales care are also extremely important,” he explains.
“It’s also important to find a hardware provider that is interested in a long-term partnership – not a quick sale,” Hurt adds. “We find customers want to work with someone that picks up the phone and is there to help resolve issues in real-time. Downtime equals frustration and loss of revenue – so look for a supplier who will be on hand, with local service, for the quickest turnaround.”
“Lastly, look for a hardware provider that works exclusively with best-of-breed partners that share a commitment to integrity, flexibility and responsiveness, especially when so many providers have lost sight of these vital attributes,” he concludes.
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Dec 12, 2017 • video • Features • Mobility • Xplore • Bob Ashebrenner • hardware • rugged • Sandy McCaskie
In the latest of our Field Service News webinars, FSN Editor-in-Chief, Kris Oldland was joined by Sandy MCaskie, Sales Director EMAC for Xplore and Bob Ashenbrenner,President Durable Mobility Technologies as they gave an excellent session as they...
In the latest of our Field Service News webinars, FSN Editor-in-Chief, Kris Oldland was joined by Sandy MCaskie, Sales Director EMAC for Xplore and Bob Ashenbrenner,President Durable Mobility Technologies as they gave an excellent session as they gave us the benefit of the insight they've gained from years of experience and hundreds of mobility implementations - to help field service organisations get the most from their mobility projects.
The full Webinar PLUS an accompanying eBook are available to Field Service News subscribers - if you are a field service professional you may well qualify for our complimentary industry practitioner subscription. Click the following link to apply for your subscription and we will send you links to the webinar and the eBook instantly whilst we process your application!
The webinar itself covered a range of important topics within the strategy development and planning process for delivering a successful mobility project including:
- How to get the green light for your mobility project
- Why buying for the enterprise differs from buying consumer devices
- Exploring the common drivers for mobility projects
- The importance of form factors amongst rugged mobile options
- Understanding how to get your mobility projects approved
- Getting the right stakeholders invested in your mobility project
- Why and how you should build a strong project team across operations and IT for your mobility project
- Putting together the RFP for your mobility project
- Testing and piloting your RFP
- The importance of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for your enterprise mobility solution[/unordered_list]
In this excerpt taken from Oldland's Q&A session at the three discuss the importance of approaching enterprise mobility in a holistic and integrated manner that taes into account both your hardware and software requirements simultaneously.
"For those companies out there - and there are an awful lot of them still, that are approaching this process [developing a mobility strategy for their field service operation] for the first time, how much should the decision in what tools to use in an ecosystem be intertwined - or should the decisions around software an hardware be treated separately?" Oldland asked.
"From my perspective I think companies tend to look at the software applications way before they look at the hardware question and I think that's a big mistake" McCaskie replied.
You want to be picking devices that are the easiest to use relative to software - because the software is your process.
"If it's the first time around they've implemented an IT mobile solution, they tend to look to port over their old paper based processes onto the new system. What that results is that whatever software they go for, there tends to be a certain amount of rewriting and bespoke development for themselves. When that happens all of a sudden you've got costs down the road when it comes to updating the software."
'This is why working with a hardware supplier such as Xplore can mitigate that because when the later phases of implementation are rolled out some eighteen or twenty four months later, the device is going to be the same - they don't have to think about getting their bespoke software rewritten - you can't say that about consumer grade devices."
"You really don't want to let the tail wag the dog, you don't want to let your device limit your software options" added Ashenbrenner.
"When you look at both of these together, you want to be picking devices that are the easiest to use relative to software - because the software is your process. The software really controls your order of work and you don't want to pick a device that becomes a straight jacket."
"And there is then the other piece to this which you mentioned earlier in the session Kris and Sandy has picked up here as well which is by getting a device that has been designed to operate for the next three to five years you save yourself an awful lot of churn and change. Xplore has tablets that work in vehicle docks that haven't changed in five or seven or even more years and that is by design."
"If you'd been buying consumer devices, and you were buying over a period of two or three years you'd have to be buying different devices at the time you deployed, you'd be buying different cases that aren't interchageable, different vehicle docks and so on."
"So you absolutely need to look at the whole solution, and make sure neither hardware nor software is pinning you into a corner."
The full Webinar PLUS an accompanying eBook are available to Field Service News subscribers - if you are a field service professional you may well qualify for our complimentary industry practitioner subscription. Click the following link to apply for your subscription and we will send you links to the webinar and the eBook instantly whilst we process your application!
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Nov 01, 2017 • Features • Hardware • Xplore • Bob Ashenbrenner • rugged • Sandy McCasky • SOTI
Ahead of an upcoming webinar with Field Service News, Xplore’s John Graff takes a look at why ultimately so many mobility projects fail to deliver the return on investment they promise...
Ahead of an upcoming webinar with Field Service News, Xplore’s John Graff takes a look at why ultimately so many mobility projects fail to deliver the return on investment they promise...
A couple months ago, former mobile solutions architect and current Xplore consultant Bob Ashenbrenner noted that “many companies are struggling to figure out how and when to invest in not just mobile technologies, but the right mobility solutions.”
A similar sentiment is being shared by SOTI CEO and founder Carl Rodrigues after reviewing the results of a recent study conducted by Arlington Research on his company’s behalf:
“Many organisations are using mobility for the basics, but do not know how to implement the next level of mobile integration to transform their workforce…” he noted before adding that this hurdle ‘…is leaving businesses with a “piecemeal approach” to their mobile operations – a disconnected set of point solutions required to perform business critical operations.’
Though there is a consensus among organisations worldwide that more mobility tools are needed in the workplace (for many reasons), there is also a consensus that shopping for effective mobility solutions can be complex.
That is precisely why we’ve brought Bob together with our EMEA Sales Director Sandy McCasky on November 8 for a upcoming “coffee break” webinar with Field Service News.
They will have a very open and honest conversation about why so many executives are hesitant to buy into more advanced mobile technology implementations given the business process improvements that have been repeatedly credited to increased utilisation of mobile devices.
There’s a tendency by many managers to gravitate towards mobile device brands that they are familiar with from their personal lives; consumer brands that aren’t suited for professional environments.
In my opinion, both of these issues boil down to one underlying challenge: Too many companies don’t have a well-planned buying process for mobility solutions.
Often, they have many good ideas for possible uses of mobility, yet they may skip steps in the buying and evaluation process to meet an accelerated timeline, or they may fail to take certain actions early enough in the process to ensure success.
For example, they know they need X, Y and Z capabilities, but spend months scouring the web, chugging through sales meetings and churning through testing cycles without ever securing executive sponsorship or proving the business case.
There’s a tendency by many managers to gravitate towards mobile device brands that they are familiar with from their personal lives; consumer brands that aren’t suited for professional environments.
And, while your mobile device decision alone can’t make or break the success of your organisation’s mobility project, device failures are a leading cause of worker downtime.
Picking incompatible device-software-accessory combinations because it was hard to make an apples-to-apples “solution” comparison online or forgetting to consider the true durability requirements beyond a “ruggedized case”, often leads to project failure in the eyes of workers and executives.
Thus the reason why Xplore is working with partners such as Intel to create a templatised action plan that every company can reference when buying mobile technologies.
A single shift in your mobile buying strategy and process can put your organisation in a position to more expeditiously advance its business goals and take advantage of new revenue-generating opportunities.
I’m confident that if we – collectively with our customers and partners – help simplify the “shopping” process from day one, organsations will be able to make more informed technology purchasing decisions and secure executive support for full-scale implementations.
They will also realise the benefits of improved worker productivity and more cost-effective workflow execution.
In short, a single shift in your mobile buying strategy and process can put your organisation in a position to more expeditiously advance its business goals and take advantage of new revenue-generating opportunities.
If you want to move your mobility project forward quickly – and move your company closer to productivity and growth goals via mobility – then join us for this webinar.
You’ll walk away with the know-how and resources to choose a mobile solution that’s capable of improving business process efficiency and, therefore, your operational performance and profitability levels.
Register for the webinar @ http://fs-ne.ws/TWDr30fM4Sc
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Jul 25, 2017 • Hardware • News • Xplore • XSLATE R12 • hardware • rugged • tablets
Xplore Technologies Corp. and Intel Corporation have announced that the fastest rugged tablet available today, the Windows®-powered XSLATE R12, is gaining another significant boost in speed, power and storage capacity as Xplore becomes the first...
Xplore Technologies Corp. and Intel Corporation have announced that the fastest rugged tablet available today, the Windows®-powered XSLATE R12, is gaining another significant boost in speed, power and storage capacity as Xplore becomes the first rugged tablet manufacturer to integrate Intel® PCIe Solid State Drives (SSD) into its portfolio.
The performance-accelerating Intel PCIe SSDs are now shipping as a standard feature on all XSLATE R12 Intel Core® Series i7 models, including a new 1TB configuration option. The new drives deliver over 2X improvement in disk performance, and when combined with the i7 vPro processor, a 48% improvement in overall system performance*.
The new drives deliver over 2X improvement in disk performance, and when combined with the i7 vPro processor, a 48% improvement in overall system performance
Some of the mobile workers who will immediately benefit from the Intel PCIe SSD-equipped XSLATE R12 include those who:
- Opt not to store data in the cloud, either due to security concerns or application design, and instead need to store locally on the rugged tablet;
- Frequently rely on data- and graphics-intensive applications, such as those used to generate 3D CAD drawings or GIS location intelligence; or
- Have historically been forced to delete files to make room for the large amount of inspection, investigation or quality control photos and videos captured in a day’s work.
“The Xplore XSLATE R12 with an Intel Core i7-7600U processor and an Intel 600p Series PCIe-based SSD is, by far, the fastest rugged tablet we have ever tested,” noted Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, editor, RuggedPCReview.com. “It's amazing how Xplore's proactive adoption of leading edge technology is boosting rugged tablet performance to levels thought impossible just a short time ago."
*According to Passmark testing conducted in July 2017.
Check out our own Hands On Review of the XSLATE R12 here
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Apr 06, 2017 • Hardware • News • Android 6 • Marshmallow • Xplore • D-10 • rugged tablet
Xplore Technologies Corp has recently announced its flagship Android™ rugged tablet, the XSLATE D10, is available with the upgraded Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow operating system. The Intel®-powered XSLATE D10 has long been considered the “fully rugged...
Xplore Technologies Corp has recently announced its flagship Android™ rugged tablet, the XSLATE D10, is available with the upgraded Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow operating system. The Intel®-powered XSLATE D10 has long been considered the “fully rugged Android champion” in its 10.1” tablet class. This latest OS improvement provides Xplore customers with even greater return on investment (ROI) thanks to Marshmallow’s security, power management and mobile device management enhancements.
“Companies of all sizes, across all global industries, come to Xplore because they need to mobilize their workforces with highly secure, highly versatile enterprise-grade computing solutions that won’t compromise their sensitive data or the safety of their workers. They know that Xplore consistently builds and refines best-in-class rugged tablet solutions with the customers’ best interests and big picture operational objectives in mind,” explained Ron Harter, senior director of software development at Xplore. “With this latest XSLATE D10 OS upgrade, customers will maintain the Android-defined flexibility they mandate within their mobile IT environments but gain critical new computing functionality that will lead to performance and efficiency gains.”
[quote float="left"]With this latest XSLATE D10 OS upgrade, customers will maintain the Android-defined flexibility they mandate within their mobile IT environments but gain critical new computing functionality that will lead to performance and efficiency gains -Ron Harter, Xplore Technologies
The new Android 6.0.1, Marshmallow OS improves the battery life of the Xplore XSLATE D10 rugged tablet more than 10 percent, extending the use time beyond 8 hours*. Google’s latest battery optimization techniques work in combination with a new Marshmallow-specific application standby feature to prevent workflow applications from draining the battery and causing undue disruptions to the user. A hot-swappable second battery option provides up to 22 hours of continuous work time. The upgraded XSLATE D10 tablets also provide IT managers and users with several enhancements to the Android for Work and Voice Assist APIs, each of which will prove indispensable to organizations seeking greater worker efficiency and, therefore, faster application responsiveness.
“Often, when our customers first evaluate today’s mobile computer options, they are shocked to find how many are either incompatible with existing software, unable to meet security standards, or incapable of connecting to existing systems,” noted Josh Austin, CTO of OPEN Inc, the creator of SafetyPAD and an Xplore partner. “Our fire and EMS customers need complete, uninterrupted accessibility to critical data resources in and out of the office, and the Xplore XSLATE D10 rugged tablet is the only platform that enables them to easily leverage the inherent flexibility of Android. Xplore’s overt attention to quality, connectivity, and performance in the engineering of the XSLATE D10 has enabled our customers to easily achieve every one of their mobility goals. The recently expanded OS features will enable us, as a software provider, to further optimize and scale our solutions.”
The XSLATE D10 has been lauded for its user-friendly features, including a bright outdoor-viewable multi-touch display; eight standard I/O ports; and 4G LTE, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi technologies. It also comes standard with several collaboration tools that enable hi-res image capture and video conferencing as well as multi-user login. The rugged tablet’s numerous MIL-STD-810G tested, IP65-rated and ATEX/C1Z2-certified Hazardous Location safeguards combine with a 64GB Solid State Drive (SSD) to keep workers productive – and their work protected – in every environment.
The XSLATE D10, named Intel’s 2016 Client Platform of the Year, is also a highly secure and fully managed mobile computing solution. It can easily be deployed, configured, secured, and upgraded using a number of enterprise mobility management (EMM) platforms, including Airwatch, MobileIron and SOTI Mobi Control. And customers benefit from the standard TPM, Kensington Lock option, and expanded security and encryption features now available via the Marshmallow OS.
For more information about the new Xplore XSLATE D10 Android platform, please visit www.xploretech.com/D10.
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Feb 22, 2017 • Hardware • News • Mark Holleran • Michael Kelly • Xplore • CLS • rugged tablet • Sattelite Communications • Thorium X
The world's longest-establish rugged tablet PC maker, Xplore Technologies, has partnered with CLS America to launch the Thorium X, a first-in-class satellite communications tablet system based on the Xplore XSLATE D10 Android rugged tablet PC,...
The world's longest-establish rugged tablet PC maker, Xplore Technologies, has partnered with CLS America to launch the Thorium X, a first-in-class satellite communications tablet system based on the Xplore XSLATE D10 Android rugged tablet PC, meaning "off-the-grid" workers in the UK and Europe can maintain operations almost regardless.
Xplore has received an initial order from OEM customer CLS for 1,000 XSLATE D10 units and will fulfill follow-on orders as needed. It is now available in the UK and Europe.
Thorium X comes with the Thorium Application for immediate use of satellite email, weather, mapping and more. Thorium X also comes with a ThoriumWeb account, so users can log on and see their locations, the data moving through the system, electronic forms results, connected sensor values and a number of other features.
Thorium X is priced at $2,299.00 (satellite and Wifi) and $2,499.00 with cellular. There is a range of satellite service packages available, starting at $20 per month plus usage charges.
We know that communications challenges in places or during times when no cellular or WiFi is available costs global industries and governments millions of dollars.Thorium X now allows people to stay connected via satellite 100% of the time
The Intel-powered Thorium X features an integrated Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) modem and flexible satellite antenna that significantly expands the reliability, speed, and cost-effectiveness of mobile communications. As a result, users will be able to maintain continuity in their professional activities from any remote location around the globe – and most likely at a lower cost than most cellular data plans.
Michael Kelly of CLS America said: “We know that communications challenges in places or during times when no cellular or WiFi is available costs global industries and governments millions of dollars.Thorium X now allows people to stay connected via satellite 100% of the time, and at a fraction of the cost of satellite phones.”
In fact, Thorium X users will have the unprecedented ability to access email, view statistical reports of missions, engage in M2M communication and monitoring, and send electronic forms – among other critical tasks – via satellite in real time. A bright, 10.1” outdoor viewable screen and Glove Touch capabilities make it easy to conduct secure, TPM 1.2-protected transactions day or not, even in inclement weather. Thorium X software solutions are also available as a tablet app and desktop platform to securely facilitate mapping functions, deliver weather reports, and perform data compilation and transmissions in real-time via the rugged satellite tablet.
Michael Kelly added: “The launch of Thorium X means that users no longer have to rely solely on WiFi or cellular network connections. This is a huge win for people and teams who work in remote areas, or during times that other communications have been compromised, especially those supporting global operations related to emergency management, military, environmental monitoring, government, fisheries, and other field-centric industries."
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Nov 14, 2016 • Hardware • News • Xplore • rugged
Xplore Technologies has recently launched the XSLATE R12 detachable rugged tablet PC in the UK and Europe.
Xplore Technologies has recently launched the XSLATE R12 detachable rugged tablet PC in the UK and Europe.
Key features include advanced communications capability, and noteworthy is the ease with which it transforms from a tablet, to a notebook or desktop with a keyboard, and back.
Xplore incorporated specific customer feedback into the 12.5” rugged tablet design making it highly suitable as the primary computing device for emergency services, manufacturing, utility, insurance, and construction industry professionals alike.
The XSLATE R12's customer-requested features include antenna pass-through capabilities, an RJ-45 + Serial Port dongle and a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard that magnetically stows on the back of the tablet even when docked. It has an optically bonded 800 Nit "View Anywhere Display". It is also designed to sync with existing back office systems and software to deliver real-time data via multi-authentication access.
Steve Priestley, Xplore Director of Sales, Europe, said: "As well as the technical features, key to its practicality to user groups is the ease with which R12 transforms from a tablet, to a notebook or desktop with a keyboard, and back.”
It’s equipped with pen and touch capabilities, and backed by a Bluetooth-connected keyboard , and the standard hot-swappable battery is critical for long shifts while the large, outdoor-viewable display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass for damage-resistant, day-and-night viewing.
R12 also features more connectivity options than others in its class, including those antenna pass-through capabilities, an RJ-45 and True Serial port dongle, and a SlateMate barcode reader and HF RFID reader combo.
"The antenna pass-through technology will allow police, fire and ambulance services to prepare and share incident response plans from vehicles, but in the commercial sector the same technology means organisations of all sizes can to mobilise data in real-time to improve productivity and efficiency of those responsible for assembly, maintenance, logistics, inspection, and testing across many industries, such as manufacturing and utilities,” said Steve Priestley.
The XSLATE R12 is fully supported by a complete line-up of accessories purpose-built to ensure a seamless desktop-to-tablet transition. These include a desktop docking station, Secure Mobile Dock, and Work Anywhere Kit featuring a carrying case and tablet kickstand. This latest addition to Xplore’s line of award-winning tablets coincides with the company’s industry record-setting 20th anniversary as the only OEM to exclusively design and deliver rugged tablets for as long.
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Aug 29, 2016 • Hardware • News • Xplore • hardware • rugged
Xplore Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: XPLR) has started its 20 year anniversary celebration. Since 1996, Xplore Technologies has exclusively engineered and delivered one of the most complete lines of purpose-built rugged tablet technologies on earth...
Xplore Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: XPLR) has started its 20 year anniversary celebration. Since 1996, Xplore Technologies has exclusively engineered and delivered one of the most complete lines of purpose-built rugged tablet technologies on earth...
According to VDC Research, out of all of the mobile computer original equipment manufacturers (OEM) operating today, Xplore, with a UK base in Warwickshire, is the only OEM to have focused on rugged tablets – and only rugged tablets – for 20 years. This market focus is what has made Xplore a trusted authority in the rugged tablet space.
This unprecedented industry achievement comes on the heels of Xplore’s fifth consecutive year of market-exceeding growth.
“The fact that Xplore is still at the forefront of the turbulent rugged tablet market after 20 years of changing market conditions and a rapidly evolving tech landscape is a true testament to the strength of our company and the value that customers put on the unique mobile computing capabilities only Xplore rugged tablets can provide,” said Mark Holleran, president and COO of Xplore. “Rugged tablets are all we do, and we do it best.”
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